The Gift

We had three Christmas parties Thursday. Trey and I were on the road all day long. We spent the night in Birmingham at his parents house and left Tuscaloosa just in time to miss the tornado warnings Wednesday night. From the alarm sound, it was "Go" the rest of the day. Our only alone time was in the car laughing at our families before hitting the next party.

We left my mother's house around 2:30 and headed to Stephen's apartment to eat some more. I was so tired of eating and really getting sleepy, plus, I'd had a few glasses of wine; I was feeling very relaxed. I handed Trey the keys to my car and laid my head back on the head rest and lowered my eye lids while he made the drive to Shelby County. Somewhere along the interstate, Trey mentioned having one more Christmas gift.

"But I thought we'd already exchanged our gifts earlier this month!," I protested. "I didn't get you anything else!"

"Oh it's nothing major, it's at Stephen's," he responded.

What the hell did you get me? You weren't supposed to! How did you spend money without me seeing it missing in the checking account? I wondered quietly.

"I got you those tickets to go see that Wizard of Oz thingy show -"

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWicked!!!EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!" I screamed, "I'M GOING TO SEE WICKED!!!!!?"

Trey put a finger in his ear and laughed, "Yes, you're going to see Wicked."

More screaming. Actually, I think I screamed like a teenage girl seeing David Cassidy or the Beatles all the to Stephen's.

"I'M GOING TO SEE WICKED! I'M GOING TO SEE WICKED!," I continued, "Where are we sitting? Are we sitting where Stephen thought he'd get the tickets?"

"I don't know; I think it's the middle section."

"The mezzanine?"

"Yeah, I think so."

I don't care! I'M GOING TO SEE WICKED!!

We got to Stephens a few minutes later and I was still so giddy, I was singing.

Apparently, Stephen had a plan, though, "Why did you tell her? I had it all planned out!"

"I'll act surprised!" I reassured him, "I can fake it!"

I don't think it assured Stephen well enough. I tried to act surprised anyway when I opened the gift and didn't fake anything at all when I read where we were sitting.

ROW D ORCHESTRA

no way...

"Third row???"

"Yup!"

"I'M GOING TO SEE WICKED ON THE THIRD ROW!" the poor neighbors. I just kept screaming!!

#1 Fan

Text message from Stephen: Hear about Wicked?

Me: What about? Coming to Bham!!!!! Make trey get tickets!!! I want to go sooooo bad!!!

S: I can get tickets now

Me: What????? How much??

S: I think 30 thru 78 this is a presale too could get some really good seats!

Me: I can't say yes to that! I've got my half marathon to register for this month! Early Christmas present?

S: What r u asking me? half marathon?

Me: I'm running in a half marathon and I have to regsiter this month. Costs money. How long do we have for presale?

S: I don't know! think [Trey] would go? i was actually thinking of getting tickets

Me: All I know is that I'm going if I have to sneak in!!

Conversation with Trey:

"Hey, baby," stay sweet! "What are you doing??"

"Working. Just got off the phone with a client."

"Oh, that's great! I'm glad! Busy day?"

"Yes, busy." He knows somethings up! Dammit!

"I talked to Stephen just now." Just keep smiling!

"Oh yeah? What'd he say?" He knows I'm about to ask for something...

"Oh, that he can get presale tickets to Wicked now and I really want to go, I hear it's awesome, I really want to go see it -"

"No."

"But it's WICKED!"

"What's Wicked?"

"It's the Wizard of Oz. On. Broadway." duh!

"How much?" shit!

"I don't know," 'attagirl! Keep smiling! "Talk to Stephen! I don't know how he's got the connection or how long we have. All I know is there is no "NO" to Wicked."

"When is it?"

"April."

"Can it wait?"

"There. is. no. "NO." to. Wicked."